ADF skiiers bond with paralympians

President of Disabled Winter Sports Australia Mr Ron Fineran, the Laureus world disabled sports personality of the year and 2002 winter paralympic multi-gold medallist Michael Milton presented a framed photograph of the 2002 winter Paralympic team to Vice Chief of the Defence Force VADM Russ Shalders and treasurer of the ADF Alpine Snow Sports Association LCDR Adrian Pay.

By Michael Weaver

A 20-year association between Disabled Winter Sports Australia and the ADF Alpine Snowsports Association (AASA) has been bonded by the presentation of a framed photo marking the alliance.

The Disabled Winter Sports Australia holds its annual championships as part of the ADF’s annual National Interservice Alpine Snowsports Championships, with the disabled athletes using the event as their final Australian selection trials for World Cup and Paralympic teams.

This year’s championships are at Mt Hotham from August 10-16.

The reason for combining with AASA is because the disabled association does not have the resources to conduct ‘Federation Internationale de Ski’ (FIS) standard races, and the ADF is one of the few organisations that conduct races at this level.

The Disabled Winter Sports Australia presented a framed photograph of the 2002 Paralympic team to thank AASA for its ongoing support.

“The association between the two organisations has been long and fruitful and many firm bonds and friendships have been made,” said vice-president of the AASA LTCOL Bunny Carrigan.

“It has been wonderful over the past 25 or so years for Defence skiers to participate in the same event as disabled skiers and in many cases to be beaten by them, and to then see those skiers go on to compete at an international level and win gold medals for Australia.

“It has been wonderful for Defence to know that we have had a considerable affect on this outcome.

“In particular, to have seen Michael Milton blossom from a budding racer, often beaten by the more capable Defence skiers, become a world champion, fairly well unbeatable by both disabled and able-bodied athletes, and then become the Australian sports personality of the year, has been wonderful.”

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